Christ the Ladder Between Heaven and Earth

Christ: The Connection Between Heaven and Earth

1. If we understand correctly what the Lord Jesus Christ said to Nathanael, it concerns not only him but all humanity. For our Lord Jesus saw the entire human race under the fig tree. In this context, the fig tree symbolizes sin. It doesn't always represent this, but in this particular passage it carries this symbolic meaning. You know that when the first man sinned, he covered himself with fig leaves (Genesis 3:7). They covered their nakedness when they felt shame for their sin. What God had created as natural parts of their bodies, they turned into sources of shame.

They had no need to feel ashamed of God's creation. But sin came first, and shame followed. "They were naked, and were not ashamed" (Genesis 2:25). They had done nothing to be ashamed of. But why am I saying all this? To help us understand that the fig tree symbolizes sin. So what does Jesus mean by, "When you were under the fig tree, I saw you" ? When you were under sin, I saw you.

Nathanael, reflecting on what had happened, remembered that he had been under a fig tree where Christ was not physically present. Christ wasn't there in bodily form, but through His spiritual knowledge, where is He not present? Because Nathanael knew he was alone under the fig tree, where the Lord Christ was not physically present, when Jesus said to him, "When you were under the fig tree, I saw you," Nathanael recognized Christ's divine nature and exclaimed, "You are the King of Israel" (John 1:49).

2. The Lord said, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these" (John 1:50). What are these greater things? He said, "You shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man" (John 1:51).

Let's recall the ancient story written in Genesis. When Jacob slept at a certain place, he put a stone under his head. In his sleep, he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. The Lord was resting upon it, and angels were ascending and descending on it (Genesis 28:11-13). This is what Jacob saw. We wouldn't have this record of a man's dream unless it contained some great mystery, some profound prophecy to be understood in that vision.

Jacob himself, understanding what he had seen, placed a stone there and anointed it with oil. Now you recognize the anointing—recognize also the Anointed One. He is "the stone that the builders rejected; it has become the chief cornerstone" (Psalm 118:22). He is the Stone of which He Himself said, "Whoever stumbles over this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls" (Matthew 21:44).

People stumble against this stone when it lies on the earth. But it will fall on them when Christ comes from above to judge the living and the dead. Woe to the Jews who stumbled over Christ in His humility! "This man is not from God," they said, "because he does not observe the sabbath" (John 9:16). "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross" (Matthew 27:40).

You fool! The Stone lies on the ground, and you mock it. But since you mock it, you're blind. Since you're blind, you stumble. Since you stumble, you're shaken. Since you've been shaken by this Stone as it lies on the ground, you'll be crushed by it when it falls from above. Therefore Jacob anointed the stone. Did he make it an idol? No, he showed its significance but did not worship it. Now pay attention to this Nathanael, through whom the Lord Jesus has chosen to explain Jacob's vision to us.

3. Those well-taught in Christ's school know that Jacob is also Israel. These are two names for the same man. His first name, Jacob, which means "supplanter" or "one who takes another's place," was given at birth. When the twins were born, his brother Esau was born first, but the younger's hand was found on the elder's foot. Jacob held his brother's heel as Esau preceded him in birth, with Jacob coming after. Because of this—because he held his brother's heel—he was called Jacob, meaning "Supplanter."

Later, when he was returning from Mesopotamia, an angel wrestled with him on the way. How can we compare an angel's strength with a man's? This encounter is a mystery, a sacred sign, a prophecy, a symbol. Let's try to understand it. Consider the nature of the struggle. During the wrestling match, Jacob prevailed against the angel. This carries profound meaning. Even after prevailing against the angel, Jacob held onto him. Yes, the man held onto the one he had conquered and said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me" (Genesis 32:26). When the conqueror was blessed by the conquered, this prefigured Christ.

So the angel, who is understood to represent the Lord Jesus, said to Jacob, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name" (Genesis 32:28), which means "one who sees God." After this, the angel touched the socket of Jacob's thigh, and it was put out of joint. So Jacob became lame. Consider the One who appeared to be conquered. Such power had this seemingly defeated One that He could touch Jacob's thigh and make him lame.

The angel allowed himself to be conquered. For Jesus "has power to lay down his life, and power to take it again" (John 10:18). He isn't angry about being conquered, just as He isn't angry about being crucified. He even blessed Jacob, saying, "You shall not be called Jacob, but Israel." So the "supplanter" became the "seer of God."

The angel touched Jacob's thigh and made him lame. In Jacob we can see the Jewish people—those thousands who followed and went before the Lord, who together with the apostles worshiped the Lord and cried out, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Matthew 21:9). These represent Jacob being blessed. But Jacob has remained lame until today in those who are currently Jews. The hip socket represents the multitude of their descendants.

The Psalm, prophesying that the Gentiles would believe, says: "A people whom I have not known served me; as soon as they heard of me they obeyed me" (Psalm 18:43-44). I wasn't physically present with them, yet they heard and believed me. I was physically present with the Jews, yet they killed me. "A people whom I have not known served me; as soon as they heard of me they obeyed me." Therefore, "faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).

The Psalm continues, "The foreigners lied to me," referring to the Jews. "The foreigners lied to me, the foreigners lost heart and limped from their paths" (Psalm 18:44-45). I have pointed out Jacob to you—Jacob both blessed and lame.

4. Since this topic has come up, we shouldn't overlook something that might perplex some of you. What's the purpose behind the name changes in Scripture? When Abraham's name was changed (for he was first called Abram, until God changed his name, saying, "You shall no longer be called Abram, but Abraham" (Genesis 17:5)), from that time forward he was never again called Abram. Search the Scriptures and you'll see that before receiving his new name, he was called only Abram; after receiving it, he was called only Abraham.

But this Jacob, when he received another name, heard similar words: "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall you be called" (Genesis 32:28). Yet if you search the Scriptures, you'll see that he was always called both—both Jacob and Israel. Abram, after receiving another name, was called only Abraham. Jacob, after receiving another name, was called both Jacob and Israel.

The name Abraham was to be fulfilled in this world, for here he became the father of many nations—which is the meaning of his name. But the name Israel relates to the world to come, where we will see God. Therefore God's people—the Christian people in the present time—are both Jacob and Israel: Jacob in reality, Israel in hope.

The younger people (Christians) are called the supplanters of their elder brothers (the Jews). Have we supplanted the Jews? No, but we're called their supplanters because they were supplanted for our sake. If they hadn't been blinded, Christ wouldn't have been crucified. His precious blood wouldn't have been shed. If that blood hadn't been shed, the world wouldn't have been redeemed. Because their blindness has benefited us, the elder brother has been supplanted by the younger, and the younger is called the Supplanter. But how long will this continue?

5. The time will come, the end of the world will come, and all Israel will believe—not those who are alive now, but their descendants who will be alive then. These present ones, walking in their own ways, will go to their own place, will face everlasting condemnation. But when they've all become one people, what we sing will come to pass: "I will be satisfied when I awake to see your likeness" (Psalm 17:15). When the promise made to us, that we will "see face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12), is fulfilled. "Now we see in a mirror, dimly," and "in part."

But when both peoples—now purified, now raised again, now crowned, now transformed into immortal form and everlasting incorruption—shall see God face to face, then Jacob will be no more, but only Israel. Then the Lord will see him in the person of this holy Nathanael and will say, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit" (John 1:47).

When you hear, "Here is truly an Israelite," think of Israel. When Israel comes to mind, think of his dream, in which he saw a ladder from earth to heaven, the Lord standing upon it, and the angels of God ascending and descending. Jacob had this dream. But after this, he was called Israel. That is, a little time after, as he was returning from Mesopotamia.

If Jacob saw the ladder, and he is also called Israel, and this Nathanael is a "true Israelite in whom there is no deceit," then when he was amazed because the Lord said, "I saw you under the fig tree," Jesus said to him, "You will see greater things than these" (John 1:50). And so He revealed Jacob's dream to him. To whom did He reveal it? To the one He called "an Israelite in whom there is no deceit."

It's as if Jesus had said, "The dream of the man whose name I have given you will be fulfilled in you. Don't be too quick to marvel; 'you will see greater things than these. You will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man'" (John 1:51). See what Jacob saw. See why Jacob anointed the stone with oil. See why Jacob prophetically represented and prefigured the Anointed One. For that action was a prophecy.

6. Now I know what you're waiting for. I understand what you want to hear from me. I will briefly explain this too, as the Lord enables me: "ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." If they descend to Him, He is here below. If they ascend to Him, He is above. But if they ascend to Him and descend to Him, He is both above and here below.

It's only possible for them to ascend to Him and descend to Him if He's both there where they ascend and here where they descend. How do we prove that He is both there and here? Let Paul, who was first called Saul, answer us. He discovered this by experience—first as a persecutor, then as a preacher. First Jacob, then Israel. He too was "of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin" (Philippians 3:5). In him, let's see Christ above and Christ below.

First, the very voice of the Lord from heaven demonstrates this: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4). Had Paul ascended into heaven? Had Paul thrown even a stone toward heaven? No, he was persecuting Christians, binding them, dragging them off to be executed, hunting them down wherever they hid, and when they were found, showing them no mercy.

To him, the Lord Christ says, "Saul, Saul." From where does He cry out? From heaven. Therefore, He is above. "Why are you persecuting me?" Therefore, He is below. I have explained everything, briefly yet as well as I could, beloved. I have served you according to my duty. Now for your duty, think of the poor. Let us turn to the Lord.